Illuminated sign



E. !.0wlNGER ILLUMINATED SIGN 7 Original Filed Oct. 15, 1924 4-12 4W3 alal.

INVENTOR ATTOfiNEY Lil Patented Dec. 27, 192?.

UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

EUGENE LOWINGER, OF NEW YORK, N. .Y.

ILLUMINATED SIGN.

Application filed October 15, 1924, Serial No. 743,652. Renewed November17, 1927.

This invention relates to illuminated signs, being intended moreparticularly for embodiment in signs such as are used on theatres,moving picture houses, or the like, to announce the program. or its mainfeatures.

It has been found, with the signs now in use, that those which are Welladapted for daylight use do not have the maximum attention attractingproperties when illuminated at night. while those designed more,mination tend to appearance when particularly for night il have a flatand lifeles. viewed in daylight.

The presentinvention has for an object to provide an improved sign thistype in which the above noted objections are obviated, the signconstructed according to my invention being well adapted for both dayand night display.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more par ticularly setforth.

Fig. 1 of the drawings is a face view showing one of the units of myimproved sign, which has the invention embodied therein.

Figs. 2 and 3 are transverse vertical sectional views taken on the lines2--2 and 33 of Fig. 1 respectively.

Fig. 4: is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4: -f of 1.

Fig. 5 is a similar view to Fig. 4 but showing modified construction.

The sign unit here shown is in the form of one of the letters of thealphabet, the common practice in sign work of this kind being to mountthese units removably in the face of a. hollow frame element. The unitcomprises a rectangular frame plate 10, in which is embossed, or formedthe outline of the letter, or character desired, the inner base portionbeing cut out to permit of illumination of the letter from the rearthereof. Bevelled surfaces as shown at 23, and in a modified form at 23*are provided to give prominence to the letter by reason of the light andshadow reflected thereon. A flat, marginal face 22'surrounds the letterat the outer portions thereof, thus providing an ad ditional element forthe reflection of the light and shadow which is essential for thesharply defined contrasts desired. At the outer edges of the saidmarginal face an inward disposed rim serves to further deline theoutlines of the letter. A transparent pane 12 is secured in positionbehind the lettor, or character in such a way that the marginal surfacethereof is set back from the face portion of the frame plate leaving anintervening space; this is done so that the inner edges of the letterwill set more securely against the said pane thus obviating the tendencyto spring off which a marginal. contact would set up. It will be seenthat the pane acts as a closure for the open portions of the letter,while at the same time permitting the free passage of the light requiredfor illumination.

Ha-vin thus described my invention, what I claim new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows 1. A signunit comprising a frame plate of suitable material, means for retainingtherein a transparent pane with a space intervening between it and theinner surface of said plate, a character cut out of the frame plate, abevel and a raised marginal portion at the edge of the cut-outcharacter, the bevel being formed of the material at the edge of thecut-out character and extending from a plane on the inner side of theframe plate and spaced therefrom to a plane in advance of and on theouter side thereof, an offset formed in the frame plate spaced laterallyfrom the bevel. and parallel therewith and extending to the plane of thebevel on the outer side of the frame plate, the area betweensaid offsetand the bevel forming the raised marginal portion.

bevelled portions of the i 2. A. sign unit comprising a frame plate 7 ofsuitable material, a character impressed or formed therein, the saidcharacter having cut out base portions and step beveled members extendinoutwardly therefrom and with a flat. marginal face surrounding the saidbeveled members at their outer extremities, and with rim membersinturned from the said marginal face and terminating at the surface ofthe frame plate proper, a glass plate placed against the out out baseportions of the beveled members, and means for holding said plate inposition.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature,

1: Lowe

